Archive · 7 Aug 2026
Tamil Nadu Temple Priests Seek Higher Pensions, Welfare Board Funds
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, there are special people called temple priests, or poosarigal, who take care of Hindu temples and perform prayers.
A group called the temple priests' welfare sangam spoke up on their behalf.
The group's leader asked the Chief Minister to give more money for the priests' welfare board.
They want the monthly pension, which is like a monthly allowance, to go up to 5,000 rupees.
They also want the government to make jobs permanent for priests who only work at one-time pooja temples.
The sangam asked that more village temple priests receive pensions, increasing from 4,000 to 10,000 priests.
They also want a priest to lead the welfare board as its chairman.
The group asked the government to remove the 18 percent tax on repairing village temples.
Finally, they want the money given to support priests to rise from 12,000 to 50,000 rupees.
The Tamil Nadu Kovil Poosarigal welfare sangam urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to allocate adequate funds for the poosarigal welfare board.
The sangam demanded that a temple poosari be appointed chairman of the poosarigal welfare board.
It sought an increase in the monthly pension for poosarigal to up to Rs 5,000, along with departmental pension.
It asked to regularise the jobs of poosarigal working in one-time pooja temples and to raise the number of gramma kovil poosarigal from 4,000 to 10,000 for a Rs 1,500 monthly pension.
The sangam also sought an exemption from 18 per cent GST on rural temple renovation works and an increase in the poosarigal subsidy from Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu Kovil Poosarigal welfare sangam, led by state president P. Vasu, addressed the appeal to Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
- What
- A demand for adequate funds for the poosarigal welfare board, a priest chairman for the board, higher monthly pensions, job regularisation, more village temple priests on the pension list, and GST exemption for rural temple renovation works.
- When
- Not specified in the article.
- Where
- Tiruchy, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- To improve the financial security and welfare of temple priests (poosarigal).
- Appealing body
- Tamil Nadu Kovil Poosarigal welfare sangam
- Addressed to
- Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay
- Sangam state president
- P. Vasu
- Location of appeal
- Tiruchy, Tamil Nadu
- Pension demand
- Monthly pension up to Rs 5,000 for poosarigal
- Village temple priests demand
- Increase gramma kovil poosarigal from 4,000 to 10,000, with Rs 1,500 monthly pension
- Tax demand
- Exemption from 18 per cent GST on rural temple renovation works
- Subsidy demand
- Increase poosarigal subsidy from Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000